Historic Impressions

Scottish and Pictish Artifacts

Kildalton Cross, Scotland

This magnificent 8th century Celtic high cross
from the Western Isle of Islay depicts the Virgin and Child with
Biblical scenes of Daniel and the lions, Cain and Abel, and
Abraham and Isaac. It was created by monks connected with
the monastery at Iona. The Iona monastery was founded by
St. Columba, one of the patron saints of Ireland and a key
evangelistic figure in early Scotland. At this time, Iona
was one of the most important Christian centers in the world.
The cross is the finest surviving sculpture of the Iona
School.

10" x 5"
greystone

Scottish Luckenbooth Emblem

Two hearts entwined and crowned is worn as a symbol of love and
troth in Scotland. They were once sold by the "locked booth"
merchants of Edinburgh and Mary Queen of Scots is said to have
given one designed with her monogram within the hearts to Lord
Darnley as a betrothal present. This sculptural version includes
the cross of St. Andrew in the crown and thistles, which are the
legendary protectors of Scotland. Their thorns impaled Viking
invaders, whose screams of pain awoke the Scots who then drove away
the marauders.

8" x 6.5"
earthtone, blue/mauve

St. Martin's Cross, East Face

From Iona, Scotland, this 8th century Celtic cross features a sun
design with serpent bosses. The serpent symbolized regeneration
and healing. Christ was the sun, the Light of the World.

10.75" x 3.25"
greystone

St. Martin's Cross, West Face

The west face of this notable 8th century Celtic cross stands on the Isle of
Iona, site of Iona Monastery, founded in the 6th century by St. Columba, one
of the patron saints of Ireland. It is the only surviving Celtic cross to
feature the Virgin and Child in the center. Also shown are scenes of Daniel
and the Lions, Abraham and Isaac, Moses and the Tablets and David and the Musicians.

10.75" x 3.25"
greystone

St. Madoes Cross

This magnificent 9th century Celtic cross is taken from one of the finest
surviving Class II Pictish monuments in Scotland. Found around 1850
in the River Tay near Perth, it was obviously an important project created by a
master mason. It consists of a central nest of spiral bosses with various
key patterns and Celtic knotwork in the arms and shaft. Celtic knotwork
alludes to the interconnected nature of life, spirals symbolize movement and
energy and the key patterns were a Greek influence.

14" x 7.5"
greystone

Aberlemno Cross Slab

The 8th century cross in the Aberlemno kirk
yard of the Angus region of Scotland is one of the finest
surviving examples of Class II Pictish sculpture and is thought
to commemorate the important Battle of Nechtansmere fought in 685
A.D. in which King Brude mac Bili and his warriors defeated and
killed the Anglian King Ecgfrid. This side depicts
interlaced sea horses, birds and beasts as the backdrop for an
intricately interlaced cross with three Celtic knots in the shaft
and a center device of seven triple spirals. The careful
design of the cross probably had great meaning to initiated
Christians. The zoomorphic motifs in the background may
remind the viewer of the varied wildlife of Scotland or serve as
some sort of totem symbols.

11.5" x 6.75"
greystone, red sandstone

Aberlemno Cross

This cross is the central device of the famous
8th century Pictish cross slab in Aberlemno Kirk yard in the
Angus region of Scotland. It consists of intricate Celtic
interlace which includes three Celtic knots in the shaft and a
center device of seven triple spirals. While the slab from
which this cross is taken includes zoomorphic designs, crosses
designed by the Picts almost never included any figurative
sculpture although it is not known why this particular artistic
convention existed.

11.5" x 5"
greystone

Griffin with Vine Tail

The griffin with Saxon-style vine tail can be
found on the sacred isle of Iona, Scotland, where an important
monastery was founded in the 6th century by St. Columba, patron
saint of Ireland and early Christian evangelist of Scotland.
The griffin is the surviving shaft of a 15th century West
Highland cross on which the opposite side is a Viking ship. The
griffin is a heraldic mythical beast and was considered a fierce
guardian. The vine is best known as a symbol of Christ,
similar to the tree of life symbol which is even more ancient.

14" x 4"
greystone

Pict with Drinking Horn

This 9th century warrior of the Pictish tribe
drinks from an eagle, the ancient symbol of power. From
Invergowrie, Scotland and now in the Museum of Scotland, it is an
unusually droll carving, certainly a caricature, perhaps in the
category of the Scandinavian insult stones, which were carved as
an artistic and bloodless "thumbing of the nose" to a
perceived insult. It is the earliest artistic rendering of
drinking on Scottish stones.

8" x 6"
greystone

Skull and Crossbones with Sands of Time

Symbols of mortality and Viking runes are
powerfully carved in this 17th century Scottish grave slab.
Dedicated to a member of the Campbell and Roy clans.
These symbols also have a relationship to the Knights
Templar and the early Masonic order and are found in many old
graveyards in Scotland.

9.25" x 6.5"
greystone

Scottish Green Man

This compelling carving is based on a 15th
century misericord (choir stall carving) in Dunblane Cathedral,
Scotland. The green man was a symbol of regeneration and
oneness with the earth. Misericords were carvings
underneath the seats of the choir stalls in medieval churches and
hence featured many secular and pagan themes such as the green
man. Dunblane Cathedral was founded by King David I in the
13th century and is named after St. Blane who Christianized this
area of Scotland in the 6th century.

9.5" x 4"
earthtones, walnut woodtone

Inchbrayok Cross

This 10th century Scottish cross, richly
decorated with Celtic spirals and labyrinths, is dedicated to the
Welsh-born St. Brioc and is located in the Montrose region of
Angus, Scotland. It is taken from a slab chronicling the
life of Samson. Within the tradition of the Pictish cross
slabs, it is a late and rustic example, carved at a time in which
artistic forces were moving away from the distinctive symbolism
and style of the pagan Pictish age to declare a new unified and
Christian Scotland.

7.25" x 5"
greystone, green

Celtic Musicians with Cat

Music is thought to have played a powerful role
in early Scotland. This 10th century carving from Lethendy
Tower in Perthshire shows Pictish harp, Irish pipes and drum.

6.5" x 6"
greystone

Celtic Merman Cross

This 10th century Picto-Scottish monument
depicts a man emerging from the fish, worshipped by Picts and the
early symbol of Christ, with arms extended into spirals of life
and energy. It is a truly strong and unique design which
although thought to have been carved by a monastery, also has
obvious phallic overtones.

9" x 3"
greystone

Scottish Angel

This plump little cherub is taken from a Victorian memorial
in Perthshire, Scotland, an area of rolling hills and glistening trout
streams.

6" x 5"
greystone

Scottish Thistle

Taken from a decorative element in a Scottish historic house,
designs like this symbol of Scotland were popular in the 19th
century. According to legend, the thistle became the symbol of
Scotland when this thorny plant pierced the feet of marauding
Vikings who were attempting to creep ashore at night. Their
screams of pain alerted the Scots to their presence and defeated them.

6" x 5"
mauve/green

Scottish Dancers

This exquisite 19th century photo case
depicts the Monymusk Reel, a famous Scottish dance. Bagpipes and
agrarian tools, symbolizing prosperity, are also shown. The
village of Monymusk is a quaint place in the Aberdeen region of
Scotland, famous for the ancient St. Mary's Church and the
Monymusk Reliquary, a fabulous Celtic artifact which once held
relics of St. Columba.

5" x 4"
ivory, multi-color

Iona Cross

Inspired by an elegant 8th century cross-slab from the sacred isle
of Iona, Scotland, this carving features intricate symmetrical
interlace ringed by a Celtic sun circle. Iona Monastery was
founded by Columba, patron saint of Ireland, and was one of the
most important monasteries of early medieval times.

8.5" x 5.25"
greystone, green

Dog Biting Tail

This motif, a form of the ancient Celtic
symbol for renewal and immortality, is taken from the 15th
century MacMillan's Cross, located at Kilmory in Knapdale,
Scotland near the banks of Loch Sween. The more usual
manifestation of this symbol is the snake biting its tail. The
cross is considered one the finest examples of West Highland
sculpture and was dedicated to Alexander MacMillan, the chief of
the clan. The dog depicted here is probably a wolfhound, used by
nobles for hunting and companionship. The dog was itself a symbol
of nobility as it was illegal for the common man to own certain
types of dogs.

4.75" x 4.5"
greystone

Macmillan's Cross

This magnificent 15th century Scottish cross is dedicated to a chief of
the MacMillan clan and depicts the crucifixion scene with a sword and
Celtic motifs in the shaft.

11.25" x 5"
greystone

Scottish Angel Stone

This naive 17th century memorial carving is from the Lothian region
of Scotland. Similar designs made their way to America with
immigrants from Scotland and Ireland.

6.25" x 4.5"
greystone

Piping Pig Gargoyle

Possibly the most famous pig in Scotland, this porcine bagpipe-
player is from a 15th century reconstruction of Melrose Abbey,
where the heart of Robert the Bruce is said to be buried.